Ultra-violet lamp and reflector/shield assembly

ABSTRACT

An ultra-violet lamp and reflector/shield assembly designed to be mounted in a commercial HVAC, and to other types of A/C units is described herein. The reflector/shield includes a reflective inner surface creating an illumination pattern and an outer surface shielding the UV lamp from the air flow. An orienting and securing assembly for a UV lamp is also described herein.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/109,075 filed on Apr. 18, 2005 which is adivisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/876,413 filed Jun. 7,2001, which claimed priority on Canadian Patent Application Serial No.2,310,792 filed Jun. 7, 2000. The foregoing applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ultra-violet (UV) lamps. Morespecifically, the present invention is concerned with an assemblyincluding a UV lamp and a reflector/shield allowing the lamp to be usedin commercial type HVAC coils and in other types of coil systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Indoor Air Quality related problems, often referred to as “SICK BUILDINGSYNDROMES” costs North America well over 100 Billion dollars each yearin health care, absenteeism, lost production time and lost revenue.

Buildup of biological contaminants such as bacteria and molds onto theair conditioning coils has been identified as a major cause of the sickbuilding syndrome. Those living organisms eventually release theirtoxins in the indoor air. Even in very small quantities, these toxinsare extremely potent and can trigger violent responses from the humanimmune system. Such symptoms are commonly called allergies. Themicroorganisms found in buildings or workplace are viruses, bacteria,and their components, such as endotoxins, fungi and their metabolicproducts such as mycotoxins and antigens.

Most environments contain a large variety of bacteria. Health risksincrease only when the pathogens bacteria concentration is amplified inan indoor environment and these organisms or their by-products aresuspended and successfully airborne towards the breathing zone.Legionnaire's disease, some pneumonias, and tuberculosis are airborneinfectious diseases caused by bacteria (see table 1). Bacteria can alsocause humidifier fever and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Endotoxins are components of a bacterial cell. More precisely, they arecomponents of the outer membrane of some bacteria. Dangerous levels ofairborne endotoxins have been reported in numerous work environments,including offices and laboratories. They can cause fever and malaise,changes in white blood cell counts, and respiratory and gastrointestinalproblems (see table 1).

Fungi exist in over 100 000 known species. Microscopic fungi includeyeasts and molds. Most fungi produce spores (structures whose role ispropagation) that are carried by the air. The diameter of these sporesvaries from approximately 1 to 60 microns. Most substances containingcarbon, abundant in indoor and outdoor environments, can serve asnutrients for molds. Accumulation of humidity in the indoor environmentis the most important factor to be controlled to limit fungal growth.

Some fungi can invade living cells and cause infectious diseases.However, several molds produce proteins or glycoproteins that are highlyantigenic i.e. capable of producing an immune response and can cause, asreactions, hypersensitivity diseases or allergies in susceptibleindividuals. These allergy reactions include rhinitis, allergic asthmaand extrinsic allergic alveolitis. Growing molds may also produceseveral volatile organic compounds. These volatile compounds cause thecharacteristic moldy odour, among other things.

Antigens are organic substances capable of producing an immune responsein humans. Practically all living organisms contain proteins,glycoproteins or polysaccharides with antigenic potential. This is areason why several microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, acarids,etc.) have an impact on health via the action of antigens on the immunesystem.

Of all the hyper sensibility diseases, only hypersensitivitypneumonitis, allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergicaspergillosis are known as being a result of exposure to airborneantigens. The cause effect relationship for microbial allergens is wellknown, but the complete characterization of the dose-responserelationship is not.

Water reservoirs and air conditioning units cooling coils where warmwater condenses are good growth media for some bacteria, fungi orprotozoa. Consequently, ventilation system components, particularly sometypes of humidifiers, can aerosolize droplets from water reservoirs andtherefore are of special interest due to the production of smallantigenic hypersensitivity pneumonitis have occurred in individuals whenbuilding humidification systems were contaminated.

In buildings, the most important sources of antigens relating to humanhealth are mites, cockroaches, and molds. All these organisms produceantigens, which can cause allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis. Dustmites (acarids) and their droppings that have accumulated in bedding,furniture or in places where the relative humidity and temperature arefavourable, also produce antigens.

TABLE 1 Biological air contaminants Biological Contaminants HealthEffects Major Indoor Sources Bacteria Pneumonia, Fever, WaterReservoirs, hot water or Hypersensitivity, hot surfaces, humidifier,cooling Asthma, Pneumonitis coils Fungi Asthma, Rhinitis, Outdoor Air,spores, birds, infections, cancer plants, damp surfaces, cooling coilsProtozoa Infection Water reservoir, humidifier Viruses Infection Waterreservoir, humidifier Algae Asthma, Rhinitis Outdoor air Green PlantsAsthma, Rhinitis Outdoor air, pollen Arthropods Asthma, RhinitisCarpets, feces, mattresses, dust Mammals Asthma, Rhinitis Dogs, cats,skin scales, saliva

The Indoor Air Quality Problem

It is now common knowledge that the energy efficient designs of the1970's resulted in tighter building envelopes with improved insulationand low energy consuming ventilation, without operable windows, and thatunder these conditions, indoor pollutants were not sufficiently dilutedwith fresh air. Furthermore, an increase in indoor pollutant sourceshave been noted. New building materials, products, and furnishing emit asignificant number of potentially hazardous chemicals into the air. Theresulting situation is an increase in contaminants circulating throughthe indoor environment, with insufficient outside air introduced todilute the contaminants.

Indoor air quality (IAQ), is a complex issue, much more so than anysingle environmental issue. There are hundreds of pollutants that affectIAQ and thousands of sources. Research indicates that more than 900different contaminants are present in indoor environments.

If needs for comfort, health, and well-being are not satisfied, buildingusers may begin to complain of symptoms which are associated with poorIAQ. Headaches, burning and itching eyes, respiratory difficulties, skinirritation, nausea, congestion, cough, sneezing, and fatigue are some ofthe common complaints. One of the most common IAQ complaints is that“there's a funny smell in here”. Odors are often associated with aperception of poor air quality.

An increasing percentage of the population is becoming more sensitive toa number of chemicals in indoor air, each of which may occur at very lowconcentrations. The existence of this condition has been identified asMultiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and is currently the object ofmedical research.

According to EPA, the effects of Indoor IAQ problems are oftennon-specific symptoms rather than clearly defined illnesses. Althoughthey can be vague, the symptoms seem generally worse after a day in theworkplace and may altogether disappear when the occupant leaves thebuilding.

Legionnaire's disease, tuberculosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis areexamples of building related illness that can have serious, evenlife-threatening consequences.

In light of this, it is easily understandable why indoor air needs to beefficiently purified from biological contaminants.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,276 entitled “Method of UV distribution in an airhandling system” issued on Oct. 6, 1998 and naming Forrest B. Fencl etal., as inventors, describes a system where UV lamps are positioned in aHVAC system downstream of the heat exchanger coil, thus facing the airflow.

Fencl's method has at least four major drawbacks.

Direct air flow on the UV lamp cools it down by convection. A coolerlamp will display a lower UV output. Measurements by lamp manufacturershave shown that the germicidal UV emission drops by as much as 50% whendirect air velocity over the lamp goes from 100 ft/min to 700 ft/min. Toobtain the same UV irradiation, one must use twice the number of lampsor use expensive and short-life hot lamps with plasma arc temperaturebooster. Facing the flow, the lamps can collect some oily aerosols anddirt that will further inhibit their UV emission overtime.

By placing the UV lamps facing the outlet of the cooling coil, the inletface where most of the water condensation and where most of the dust andother bacteria nutrients are normally accumulated is not directlyirradiated. Its irradiation relies on the UV reflectivity of the coilmaterial. It is at best 60% when the coil is made of clean aluminum. Asthe coil gets dirty, this UV reflection coefficient drops very quickly.Fencl is relying on the coil material UV reflection properties toachieve good results. This is a parameter that Fencl cannot control andthat can dramatically impair the effectiveness of the invention.

Fencl states that the lamps must be placed over the coil surface in sucha way as to provide a uniform irradiation distribution across the coil.Since the condensed water runs down the coil by gravity, the molds andbacteria concentration is most likely to occur at the bottom of thecoil. In that view, a uniform irradiation pattern is certainly not themost efficient for the circumstances.

The use of a flat surface (see Fencl's FIG. 4) as a back reflector forthe UV lamp allows for the loss of a large portion of the UV radiation.Even if the lamp is mounted very close to the coil, which is not verywell suited for a “uniform irradiation”, a portion of the radiation thatlies behind the 180 degree sector facing the coil cannot be reflectedand will be lost.

By placing lamps on the plane perpendicular to the coil to provideuniform irradiation, the bottom area and coil corners where the waterruns will not be sufficiently irradiated by the ultraviolet lamps andbacteria and mold will grow in these areas.

Furthermore, by irradiating the coil with an “open” lamp, the UV raysare allowed to irradiate and ultimately destroy any plastic or rubberparts in the air handler that the UV rays contact. Examples of suchparts include wires, controls, flexible ducts and plastic drain pans.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improvedUV lamp and shield assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided anultra-violet lamp assembly for an HVAC and/or A/C unit, the assemblycomprising:

an ultra violet lamp; and a shield having an inner surface and an outersurface, the ultra-violet lamp being mountable to the inner surface,said outer surface being mountable to a support,

wherein the shield provides for air flow in the vicinity of theultra-violet lamp to be impinged on the outer surface so as to bedeflected therefrom thus preventing cooling of the ultra-violet lamp.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan ultra violet lamp assembly for an HVAC and/or A/C unit comprising anair handler and a condenser coil therein, the assembly comprising;

an ultra-violet lamp for being so positioned within the air handlerrelative to the condenser coil as to subject the condenser coil toultra-violet radiation; and a reflector having an outer surface and aninner surface and being mountable within the air handler, the ultraviolet-lamp being mountable to the inner surface,

wherein the inner surface reflects the ultra-violet light produced bythe ultra-violet lamp thereby creating an illumination pattern onto thecondenser coil.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan ultra violet lamp assembly for an HVAC and/or A/C unit comprising anair handler and a condenser coil therein, the assembly comprising:

an ultra-violet lamp for being so positioned within the air handlerrelative to the condenser coil as to subject the condenser coil toultra-violet radiation; and

a reflector/shield for being mountable within the air handler andcomprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the ultra-violet lampbeing mountable to the inner surface,

wherein the inner surface reflects the ultra-violet light produced bythe ultra-violet lamp thereby creating an illumination pattern onto thecondenser coil and wherein the outer surface provides for air flow inthe vicinity of the ultra-violet lamp to be impinged thereon so as to bedeflected therefrom thus preventing cooling of the ultra-violet lamp.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an HVAC and/or A/C system comprising: an air handler;

a condenser coil positioned within the air handler; and an ultra-violetlamp assembly positioned within the air handler, the assembly comprisingan ultra-violet lamp so positioned relative to the condenser coil as tosubject the condenser coil to ultra-violet radiation; and areflector/shield mounted within the air handler and comprising an innersurface and an outer surface, said ultraviolet lamp being mounted to theinner surface,

wherein the inner surface reflects the ultra-violet light produced bythe ultra-violet lamp thereby creating an illumination pattern onto thecondenser coil and wherein the outer surface provides for air flow inthe vicinity of the ultra-violet lamp to be impinged thereon so as to bedeflected therefrom thus preventing cooling of the ultra-violet lamp.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention willbecome more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictivedescription of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of exampleonly with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an assembly comprising a L-shapedUV lamp provided with a reflector/shield;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a system of UV lamp assembliesincluding four UV lamp assemblies as shown in FIG. 1 mounted to asupport and facing the coil of a HVAC system;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention where two UV lamps, each provided with a reflector/shield, aremounted in a window style air-conditioning unit;

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention including one UV lamp provided with a reflector/shield andsecured to an orienting and securing assembly;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the orienting and securing assemblyof FIG. 5, shown before a UV lamp is inserted thereto;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the orienting and securing assemblyof FIG. 5, shown after a UV lamp is inserted thereto;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side elevational view of a rooftop airconditioning unit provided with one UV lamp mounted in an orienting andsecuring assembly, the lamp being positioned downstream from the coil;and

FIG. 10 is a schematic side elevational view of a rooftop airconditioning unit provided with one UV lamp mounted in an orienting andsecuring assembly, the lamp being positioned upstream from the coil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first embodiment of an assembly including a UV lamp and areflector/shield assembly according to the present invention,illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, is designed to be used with a largecommercial type HVAC coil that is mounted vertically within the airhandler and in most instances is rectangular in shape.

With this type of coil, when condensation forms on the coil, it runstowards the ground. The bacteria and mold present in the air will settleand grow in the warm condensed water using various air born dust asnutrient.

Generally stated, the first embodiment of the present invention isconcerned with an apparatus wherein a germicidal lamp is positionedwithin a generally parabolic reflector/shield assembly and the lamp andreflector/shield assembly are positioned in a particular manner relativeto a HVAC condensing coil such that the coil is subjected to UVCradiation.

As will be further described hereinbelow, according to a furtherpreferred embodiment of the present invention, the ultraviolet lamp isdesigned in the shape of an L. By using an L-shaped lamp, it is possibleto treat the coil both horizontally and vertically at the same time withthe same lamp.

Turning now to the appended FIGS. 1 to 3, an assembly 10 including a UVlamp 11 provided with a reflector/shield 12 will be described.

As can be better seen from FIG. 1, the lamp 11 is generally L-shaped,including a rounded portion 14. The lamp 11 includes a proximate end 16provided with a conventional connector 18 and a distal end 20.

The lamp 11 is mounted to the reflector/shield 12 via internal clips 22.These clips 22 are better seen from FIG. 2. It is to be noted that clipshaving different base lengths could be used to change the relativeposition of the lamps with respect to the reflector/shield assembly tothereby modify the illumination pattern of the lamp.

The reflector/shield 12 is made of two identical portions 24 and 26joined at right angle via a corner plate 28. As will readily beunderstood by one skilled in the art, the reflector/shield 12 isadvantageously made of a material that adequately reflects UV radiation.

As can be better seen from FIG. 2 of the appended drawings, thereflector/shield 12 includes a generally parabolic inner surface 30 anda generally convex outer surface 32.

The inner surface 30 thereby so reflects the UV radiation emitted by thelamp 11 as is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. The shape of theinner surface 30 and the position of the lamp 11 with respect to thisinner surface are such that the illumination pattern is less that 180degrees, thereby facilitating the orientation of the assembly to yieldthe desired illumination pattern.

The outer surface 32 is such that, when the lamp and reflector assemblyof the present invention is positioned upstream from the coil in a HVACsystem, the air flow will be deflected, thereby preventing cooling ofthe lamp 11.

FIG. 2 also illustrates an external clip 34 used to removably mount thereflector/shield 12 to a support as will be described hereinbelow withrespect to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates, in a perspective view, a system of four UV lampassemblies 10 a-10 d that are so mounted to a support 36 that they arepositioned upstream from and facing a coil 38.

As can be clearly seen from this figure, the air flow 40 from the HVACsystem impinges on the outer convex surface of the reflector/shield andis therefore deflected therefrom, thereby shielding the UV lampscontained therein.

As will readily be understood by one skilled in the art, the fourassemblies 10 a-10 d are so mounted to the support 36 that theillumination provided is more intense in the lower portion of the coil38 and in the lower corners.

It is however to be noted that since the assemblies 10 a-10 d aremounted to the support 36 via clips 34 (see FIG. 2), it is easy tomodify this illumination pattern to suit the needs of the user.

It is also to be noted that while the support 36 is illustrated as beinga movable support, the circular cross-section tubes used to make thissupport could be permanently mounted to the internal surface (not shown)of the HVAC system.

Advantages

The fact that the lamp is in the shape of an L, the position of the lampfacing the coil can be adjusted for the size and layout of coil bytranslating and/or rotating the lamp.

Each lamp can be individually rotated or moved horizontally orvertically to optimize the irradiation of the coil.

It has been demonstrated that the UV intensity emitted by a dischargetube lamp type such as the one used in the present invention increasessignificantly with its operating temperature. It is thereforeadvantageous to design such system to operate under conditions thatprovides the highest environmental temperature. An advantage of thesystem of the present invention is that it utilizes the highertemperatures of the return air before it is cooled by the HVAC coil toincrease the efficiency of the irradiation.

Furthermore, a generally parabolic aluminum reflector/shield assemblythat is an integral part of the invention is installed immediatelyupstream of the lamp in such a way that the lamp sits inside thisaluminum reflector. The lamp is therefore protected against theconvection cooling effect of the air stream. This covering effect of thereflector provides a higher lamp operating temperature than a lampwithout a reflector. A lamp operating at a higher temperature willproduce substantially higher amounts of ultraviolet light whichirradiates the coil quicker and allows for the use of less lamps than isnecessary with other conventional systems.

As well, the design of the reflector is an integral part of theinvention. By using a generally parabolic reflector, the ultravioletrays can be more or less focused onto the coil and consequently theirradiation pattern can be modified. The reflector is adjustable so thatthe distance from the lamp to the reflector can be increased ordecreased in order to increase or decrease the spread of the reflectedultraviolet rays onto the coil. It will be advantageous to increase thespread when the lamps are located close to the coil due to retrofitconstraints, and vice-versa when the lamps are installed at greaterdistance from the coil.

The present invention also defines a method to attach the L-shapereflector and lamp so that the installation and removal of the units canbe performed in a timely and proper manner.

By utilizing the present invention, it is possible to overcome theshortcomings and limitations that have been apparent in the conventionaluse of the germicidal lamps. By utilizing the proper reflector and lamparrangement, it is possible to place the present invention more thanthree feet from the coil and still have the coil irradiated whereby nobacteria and mold will grow on the coil. In addition, the presentinvention utilizes a 19 mm ultraviolet lamp and that the ultravioletoutput will be in excess of 450 microwatts per square centimeter at 1meter.

By utilizing the present invention, it is not necessary to use a lampspecifically designed to work in harsh environments as the reflectorwill shield the lamp from temperature changes and allow for a lessexpensive and longer life lamp. When facing the flow, the lamps cancollect some oily aerosols and dirt that will further inhibit their UVemission over time. In the current embodiment of the present invention,the lamps are protected from the air stream by an aerodynamically shapedgenerally parabolic reflector having a convex outer surface. Thisreflector is designed to effectively protect the lamp against convectivecooling as well as dirt and oily aerosols that will overtime degrade thelamp performance.

It has been found that longer lamp life expectancy is achievable byusing the reflector/shield assembly of the present invention.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a second use for straight UV lampdeflector/shield assemblies 100 and 102 according to a second embodimentof the present invention will be described. The assemblies 100 and 102are shown mounted inside a conventional wall mountable air conditioning(A/C) unit 104 such as, for example, the Bard End-Mount Air Handler.

The assemblies 100 and 102 are very similar to the assembly 10illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. The main difference between the assemblies100, 102 and 10 is that the lamp 106 of the assemblies 100 and 102 isstraight instead of being L-shaped.

The assemblies 100 and 102 are mounted to a bracket 108 that also mountsa ballast 110 and a safety switch 112 to the A/C unit 104. An electricmotor 114 is so mounted to the A/C unit 104 as to blow air via anaperture 116.

An advantage of using the assemblies 100 and 102 in the A/C unit 104 isthat the orientation of the assemblies may be so chosen that the motor114 is not irradiated (see irradiation limits 117 in dashed lines). Thisis advantageous since it prevents the electrical windings of the motor114 to be affected by continuous UV radiation exposure.

Again, one skilled in the art will notice that the assemblies 100 and102 as so positioned that the outer convex surfaces of thereflector/shields 12 protect the lamps 106 from the airflow (see arrows118).

Of course, even though two assemblies 100 and 102 are illustrated inFIG. 4, this number is given as a non-limiting example.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 to 8 of the appended drawings, anorientation/securing assembly 200 for a lamp assembly 201 (FIG. 6)comprising a straight UV lamp 202 a reflector/shield 204 and a ballast206 will be described.

The orientation/securing assembly 200 is designed to be mounted to anexisting A/C unit or to a duct for easy orientation and securing of anassembly 201 in an aperture done in the unit or duct.

The orientation/securing assembly 200 includes a weatherproof enclosure208, a mounting plate 218, a supporting plate 210 and a lock 212.

As can be better seen from FIG. 6, the underside of the enclosure 208 isprovided with weatherproofing material such as a foam gasket 214enclosing the aperture 216 to thereby prevent the elements and unwanteddebris to enter the enclosure 208 and the unit or duct to which theorientation/securing assembly 200 is mounted.

The mounting plate 218 is secured to the enclosure 208 to receive theother elements. The supporting plate 210 is so mounted to the mountingplate 218 via wing nuts 220, 222 secured to corresponding bolts 224, 226fixed to the mounting plate 218, as to pivot between a non securingposition illustrated in FIG. 7 and a securing position illustrated inFIG. 8. Thick washers 228, 230 are provided on the bolts 224, 226between the plates 218 and 210. Finally, leaf springs 232, 234 (FIG. 5)are provided between the two plates 218 and 210 to bias the supportingplate 210 to its receiving position illustrated in FIG. 7.

Finally, as can be better seen from FIG. 7, a round reflector/shieldsupport 236 provided with a handle 238 is secured to thereflector/shield 204 via fasteners 240.

The installation of a orientation/securing assembly 200 to an A/C unitwill now be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 illustrates the enclosure 208 mounted to the wall 300 of an A/Cunit or a duct via fasteners 302. An aperture 304 having been previouslymade in the wall 300 to allow the assembly 201 therethrough.

The assembly 201 is inserted in the aperture 304 as illustrated in FIG.7. The support 236 is then so inserted behind the plate 210 as to restonto the thick washers 228 that are used as bearings to allow rotationof the assembly 201 via the rotation of the handle 238.

The wing nuts 220 are then tightened and the lock 212 is rotated in itslocking position to achieve the position illustrated in FIG. 8. It is tobe noted that FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

As will easily be understood by one skilled in the art, the installationof the ballast 206 onto the reflector/shield 204 is advantageous sinceit places the ballast 206 in a well ventilated area, increasingtherefore its useful life by preventing overheating.

It is to be noted that the use of a weatherproof enclosure is notrequired, should the orientation/securing assembly 200 be mounted insidea building or at another location that is not subject to the elements.

It is also to be noted that other types of UV lamp assemblies (notshown) could be used with the orienting and securing assembly of FIGS. 5to 8. Indeed, this aspect of the present invention is not limited by theactual UV lamp and reflector/shield assembly shown herein.

Turning finally to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the appended drawings, two possiblepositions of the assembly 201 in a rooftop mounted A/C unit 400 will bedescribed.

More specifically, FIG. 9 illustrates the orientation/securing assembly200 and the lamp assembly 201 positioned downstream from the coil 402(see flow arrows 404). It is to be noted that the assembly 201 is sopositioned that the UV radiation does not reach the drain pan 406 (seeirradiation limits 408 in dashed lines). This is an advantage sincedrain pans are often made of a material sensitive to UV radiation suchas, for example, plastic.

On the other hand, FIG. 10 illustrates the orientation/securing assembly200 and the lamp assembly 201 positioned upstream from the coil 402. Itis to be noted that this position is not optimal since thereflector/shield operates as a reflector only, therefore reducing theuseful life of the UV lamp. It is also to be noted that the assembly 201is positioned so as not to irradiate the drain pan 406 (see irradiationlimits 410 in dashed lines).

As will easily be understood by one skilled in the art, thereflector/shields 12 and 204 are advantageously made via an extrusionprocess of an extrudable material such as, for example aluminum.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way ofpreferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departingfrom the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in theappended claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An ultra-violet lamp assembly for at least one ofan HVAC and A/C unit, comprising: an ultra violet lamp; and a shieldhaving an inner surface and an outer surface, the ultraviolet lamp beingmountable to the inner surface, the outer surface being mountable to asupport, wherein the shield provides for air flow in the vicinity of theultra-violet lamp to be impinged on the outer surface so as to bedeflected therefrom thus preventing cooling of the ultra-violet lamp.22. An ultra-violet lamp assembly according to claim 21, wherein thouter surface is generally convex.
 23. An ultra-violet lamp assemblyaccording to claim 21, wherein the inner surface acts as a reflector forreflecting ultra-violet light produced by the ultra-violet lamp.
 24. Anultra-violet lamp assembly according to claim 23, wherein the innersurface comprises a generally parabolic configuration.
 25. Anultra-violet lamp assembly according to claim 23, wherein the innersurface comprises aluminium.
 26. An ultra-violet lamp assembly accordingto claim 21, wherein the support comprises an orienting and securingassembly.
 27. An ultra-violet lamp assembly according to claim 21,further comprising: a ballast mounted to the outer surface so as to beventilated by the air flow.
 28. An ultra violet lamp assembly for atleast one of an HVAC and A/C unit, comprising an air handler and acondenser coil therein, the assembly comprising: an ultra-violet lampfor being so positioned within the air handler relative to the condensercoil as to subject the condenser coil to ultra-violet radiation; and areflector having an outer surface and an inner surface and beingmountable within the air handler, the ultra violet lamp being mountableto the inner surface, wherein the inner surface reflects theultra-violet light produced by the ultra-violet lamp thereby creating anillumination pattern onto the condenser coil.
 29. An ultra violet lampassembly according to claim 28, wherein the inner surface comprises agenerally parabolic configuration.
 30. An ultra violet lamp assemblyaccording to claim 28, wherein the inner surface comprises aluminium.31. An ultra violet lamp assembly according to claim 28, wherein theouter surface comprises a shield providing for air flow in the vicinityof the ultra-violet lamp to be impinged thereon so as to be deflectedtherefrom thus preventing cooling of the ultra-violet lamp.
 32. An ultraviolet lamp assembly according to claim 31, wherein the outer surfacecomprises a generally convex configuration.
 33. An ultra violet lampassembly according to claim 31, further comprising: a ballast mounted tothe outer surface so as to be ventilated by the air flow.
 34. An ultraviolet lamp assembly according to claim 28, wherein the reflector ismounted to an orienting and securing assembly.
 35. An ultra violet lampassembly for at least one of an HVAC and A/C unit comprising an airhandler and a condenser coil therein, the assembly comprising: anultra-violet lamp for being so positioned within the air handlerrelative to the condenser coil as to subject the condenser coil toultra-violet radiation; and a reflector/shield for being mountablewithin the air handler and comprising an inner surface and an outersurface, the ultraviolet lamp being mountable to the inner surface,wherein the inner surface reflects the ultra-violet light produced bythe ultra-violet lamp thereby creating an illumination pattern onto thecondenser coil and wherein the outer surface provides for air flow inthe vicinity of the ultra-violet lamp to be impinged thereon so as to bedeflected therefrom thus preventing cooling of the ultra-violet lamp.36. A system, comprising: an air handler; a condenser coil positionedwithin the air handler; and an ultra-violet lamp assembly positionedwithin the air handler, the assembly comprising an ultra-violet lamp sopositioned relative to the condenser coil as to subject the condensercoil to ultra-violet radiation; and a reflector/shield mounted withinthe air handler and comprising an inner surface and an outer surface,the ultraviolet lamp being mounted to the inner surface, wherein theinner surface reflects the ultra-violet light produced by theultra-violet lamp thereby creating an illumination pattern onto thecondenser coil and wherein the outer surface provides for air flow inthe vicinity of the ultra-violet lamp to be impinged thereon so as to bedeflected therefrom thus preventing cooling of the ultra-violet lamp.37. A system according to claim 36, wherein the system includes at leastone of an HVAC system and an A/C system.